When you think of summer in Japan, you might picture heat and crowds – but Hakuba gently changes that image. Nestled at the foot of the Northern Japanese Alps in Nagano, Hakuba offers refreshing breezes instead of humidity, starlight instead of neon, and the sound of wind moving through cedar and birch trees instead of rush-hour noise.
Standing gracefully amid this alpine beauty is the Shakespeare Hotel, a property that feels as if it has been transplanted from a European mountain village.
Inside, exposed beams and warm-toned woods lend a sense of history and craftsmanship, while quiet corners invite you to slow down, breathe deeply, and simply take in your surroundings.
Guest rooms are simple and uncluttered, designed with comfort in mind. Large windows frame lush greenery and let in soft daylight.
At an elevation of about 700–800 meters, Hakuba enjoys an average August temperature of around 22–23°C. Even in midsummer, days are comfortably cool, and many nights are pleasant enough to sleep with the windows open, letting the mountain air replace air-conditioning. It’s a calm, unpretentious space – where room, light, and fresh air take center stage.
The mornings at this hotel are unhurried. Begin your day in the hotel’s yoga studio, where a few grounding breaths and gentle stretches come with views of green slopes and blue skies. Step outside and the options widen.
Getting to the Shakespeare Hotel is straightforward, with multiple options from Japan’s major cities.
From Tokyo
Direct Bus: Narita / Haneda / Shinjuku / Tokyo → Hakuba (approx. 6 hrs)
Train (Limited Express): Shinjuku → Hakuba (approx. 4 hrs)
Bullet Train + Bus: Tokyo → Nagano (approx. 1.5 hrs) + Nagano → Happo Bus Terminal (approx. 60 min)
From Nagoya / Osaka
Limited Express → Matsumoto or Nagano → local train/bus to Hakuba
Last Mile
Happo Bus Terminal & Hakuba Station → 5–10 min to the hotel / Free shuttle available with advance booking
Hakuba itself is a playground of nature. From gentle walks to high-energy adventures, every day offers a new way to connect with the mountains. Hiking and walking opportunities abound, with trails that begin right near the village and lead to everything from gentle forest paths to ridge-line viewpoints offering sweeping alpine vistas. Even a short stroll rewards you with crisp, clean air and a sense of rare quiet that feels far removed from the pace of everyday life.
From the hotel, rent a bike and pedal along quiet backroads that wind past rivers and stretch through rice fields, pausing at a bakery or farm stand you might never notice from a car.
On the water, you can try stand-up paddleboarding or canoeing on a calm lake, where light wind, cool spray, and the reflection of the mountains make every minute feel cinematic.
For a burst of adrenaline, switch from calm moments to excitement on outdoor athletic courses or mountain-bike tracks. Many of these activities are designed so that both adults and children can join in, making them a fun option for families looking to spend active time together.
Between activities, pause at the LAKESIDE CAFE. A coffee on the terrace tastes different when the water below you mirrors the peaks above.
A summer stay in the Alps pairs perfectly with an onsen (hot spring). With advance notice, the hotel can arrange shuttles to nearby baths and sightseeing spots, so you don’t need a car to unwind properly. Slip into mineral-rich water in an open-air tub, watch the outline of the mountains soften toward dusk, and let hiking legs loosen for tomorrow. If onsen is new to you, think of it as Japan’s most relaxing hour – a tradition that combines nature, wellness, and a deep sense of calm.
Hakuba isn’t only for adventurers. The Shakespeare Hotel offers spaces that make it easy to open your laptop in the morning or dive into a good book in the afternoon. With reliable Wi-Fi, quiet corners, and mountain views from your window, “working from home” feels more like “working from your own private retreat.”
Some guests set up in the lounge for a few hours, step out for a short walk, then return to work with a clearer mind. Others use their stay to read the book they’ve been meaning to finish for months. Here, both productivity and relaxation have room to coexist.
Few alpine retreats surprise you with flavors from Southeast Asia. At the Shakespeare Hotel, authentic Malaysian cuisine adds a colorful twist to evenings, making your stay as flavorful as it is refreshing.
Operated by a Malaysian company and led by a chef trained at a renowned hotel in Malaysia, the kitchen turns out colorful, aromatic dishes that bring a gentle tropical note to a cool alpine evening.
In addition, the area around the hotel is dotted with excellent Japanese dining options. From handmade soba at a local noodle shop to regional specialties featuring mountain vegetables and river fish, these local flavors add another layer of enjoyment to your journey.
Hakuba’s beauty is not limited to summer. In spring, meadows bloom with wildflowers against snow-dusted peaks; in autumn, entire mountainsides ignite in shades of red and gold; and in winter, deep powder snow turns the valley into a skier’s paradise. But in summer, the pace softens. Long daylight hours encourage slow mornings and unhurried evenings, and the mountain air has a way of refreshing you with every breath.
After a few days in Hakuba, what lingers isn’t a checklist of sights – it’s how you feel. Shoulders lower. Breathing deepens. Screens give way to skylines, and sleep comes easier. The Shakespeare Hotel gives that feeling a base: restful rooms, kind spaces, and the freedom to step into nature whenever you like.
When you’re ready to trade heat and crowds for cool air and quiet skies, Hakuba – and the Shakespeare Hotel – will be waiting.